Arlen continues to hear the strange whispering on the wind as the party continues to wander through the swampland.

The party moves south-east through the stinky swamp.

After following a curved path that turns south they discover another mummified human male wearing beaten up armor.The dead man has a short sword and worn pouch containing 3 gp, which Arlen takes.

The party continues on south-west to another island where the air becomes fresher.The path then joins another path due south.

Much later, after following various meandering paths, they soon come across another mummified man.There are fresh tracks all over this island and they soon realize that they are back on the same island again.They have apparently been wandering in circles.

The party leaves the isle to the north-east this time and continues exploring.

After days of listening to the relentless whispering on the wind, the strange voices are starting to get to Arlen. He announces that the whispering voices are sending him messages. As the party continues onward, he insists that the voices are now telling them which direction to go though the swamp. Later, Arlen insists that the voices are telling him to cut off his hair. He brandishes his father's knife now and again, threatening to cut off his own pony tail. Valen is worried, but cannot convince the half-elf to give up the blade.

The party soon finds that they have backtracked to the island with the dead spider.Some eat spider meat for dinner.

That evening as Valen is suitably distracted, Arlen finally cuts off his long hair with the sharp blade.He spends the evening trimming his hair short and neat, insisting all the while that the voices have instructed him to do so.

Sprouting Grass/Egg 7: Morning:

More spider meat for breakfast.The party leaves south-west following a path which eventually banks northward.After wandering along the long path for hours the forest thins out a bit and the path widens.

Gradually a singing voice becomes audible.As Valen comment on this, Arlen replies excitedly: Oh! Now you hear it, too! Himo and I have been hearing those voices for days! Valen assures him that it is not the same voice.The party halts to listen to the singing more clearly and judge the direction from whence it comes.Arlen recognizes the song and responds by singing along softly.They follow the sound of the voice.Belwar suddenly charges off ahead towards the voice, but drowns it out in the process.When he finally halts, the voice has also stopped.Arlen begins to sing the tune again and the mysterious voice returns, joining in.The party proceeds quietly in that direction for a ways.

Miri moves quietly ahead towards the source.She finds what appears to be a little girl in the clearing ahead.She sits before a small campfire.Miri approaches cautiously and signals the others to approach.

The entire party approaches the girl.Many questions follow and she answers each in turn slowly and calmly.

Who is she? - Her people (who are not here right now) call her "Beloved".How long has she been here? - Thousands of years.Is she an elf? - She is related to the elves by a common ancestor.

Belwar and Valen tell Beloved that they have been told to seek out the "swamp-witch".Beloved seems offended by this term and by the bluntness of their queries and replies that she doesn't like them.

She seems very intrigued by Miri (she has apparently never seen her kind before).Miri seems to be quietly keeping her distance, so Arlen answers for her as best he can.Arlen explains that he and Miri have traveled from the elven settlement south of the road.Beloved asks if it is on the island and Arlen replies that it is indeed.

Many more questions about the Wendigo follow:Beloved explains that those bitten by the Wendigo will eventually eat their own kind.Himo, an elf, has already tried to bite into Arlen, a half-elf, and apparently Belwar, a dwarf, will eventually try to eat Zurn, another dwarf.

Is there a cure for the Wendigo disease?Beloved explains that the cure is in the river water during a full moon.Or, those infected could be cured by a powerful holy man.Is there a holy man nearby that can cure them? Not that she knows of.Also: the whispering on the wind is apparently a symptom of the Wendigo disease.Dwarves don't seem to hear it, but elves and half-elves do.Arlen is apparently hearing it due to his proximity to Himo, who is infected by the disease.

The group talks briefly about what to do next and Arlen silently wonders if he can somehow safely lag behind the group far enough so as not to hear the voices which seem to be haunting Himo.

However, Arlen's problem is suddenly solved... Himo has heard enough talk and requires action! After questioning Zurn on which direction Gorna lies and finding that it is easterly, he marches off recklessly in that direction (not bothering to go south to the road first).

Meanwhile, Belwar displays his dragon scale pendant for Beloved, asking her about it. He explains that it seems to provide him with protection.He further explains that he had taken it off once at night while resting, but in the morning found that it was once again hanging about his neck.

Beloved tells them that Dragon scales can be magicked for many reasons. It seems clear to the enigmatic little girl that the pendant has taken hold of Belwar, and wants to reside upon his neck.

Belwar then produces the huge book that he has been carrying.Valen shows the book to Beloved asking if she is able to decifer it.She tells them that it is a book on human anatomy... yet, it is strangely incomplete. It is specifically a book on *Male* human anatomy.She tells them that it is not a nice book.

Arlen and Beloved talk some more.They talk of songs that they both know and sing a few verses.

Meanwhile, Valen and the others discuss the book.Is it useless? Is it evil? If so, why are they carrying it around?They decide to burn it and carefully put it on the small fire.Beloved seems surprised at this action and abruptly stands up and walks away.Arlen is taken off guard and remains seated by the fire, saddened that the conversation (and singing!) has ended.

Valen is surprised by her reaction and quickly follows her asking why she must leave.Beloved explains simply that she doesn't want to be nearby the fire when the book is consumed.Valen suddenly realizes that they have made a grave mistake!The book will explode!He calls back for Belwar to remove the book from the flames, but due to his reckless and aggravated condition Belwar carelessly ignores the request.Arlen overhears the conversation, however, and realizes the danger.He quickly heaves the large book from the flames and the crisis is fortunately averted.

Valen tries to convince Beloved to return to the fire, but Belwar has unwittingly smothered it, thinking that they are done.Arlen grabs some nearby sticks and quickly rekindles the small fire.Beloved returns and the conversation resumes.She makes a couple of remarks to Arlen that his friends are very strange.Arlen agrees, but mentions that (aside from Miri, who he's known for years) they are not necessarily his friends - they are just traveling companions that he has met along the way.Beloved seems a bit perplexed and asks if they even like each other.The reply from the party is an almost unanimous "No" [which sends the players and GM into fits of laughter].

Soon: the group prepares to leave, but Arlen is enjoying his time with Beloved and talks with her of songs and poems.She begins to sing/recite a particualrly long (elven?) verse familiar to Arlen.Valen tries to interrupt and ask more questions, but Beloved hushes him - she is busy reciting a story.Arlen is completely distracted as the party discusses how to proceed next.They are unsure if they should return to the river and wait for the next full moon (which is almost a month away) or if they should continue on to Gorna to look for help. There doesn't seem to be much chance of getting help here as Beloved has mentioned more than once that her folk are not around.

[Player's note: There is much uncertainty in the group as to how to proceed next. The GM calls up the description of Capt. Coris on griznuq.com and suggests that they review it. Is there some kind of clue contained therein?[/color:10cb8d757c]]

Arlen continue to hear the strange whispering on the wind as the party continues to wander through the swampland.

Apologies: Himo is not hearing these sounds any longer.

Meanwhile, Belwar displays his pendant for Beloved, asking her about it. She explains what she knows of it (or speculates?). [I need help filling this in here. I don't know anything about Belwar's pendant and cannot recall what she said about it.]

My recollection is that Belwar told Beloved that it is a dragon scale, and that it provides him protection from harm. Correct this, please, Belwar. He also mentioned that he had taken it off and gone to sleep, but in the morning he found that it was once again hanging about his neck.

Beloved told them that Dragon scales can be magicked for many reasons. It seems clear to the enigmatic little tramp that the pendant has taken hold of Belwar, and wants to reside upon his neck.

Belwar then produces the huge book that he has been carrying. Valen shows the book to Beloved asking if she is able to decipher it. She tells them that it is a book on human anatomy... yet, it is strangely incomplete.